Dr. Oz Green Drink: Week 1

Welcome back! Happy New Year to you all, and I hope you all are doing well. I am unfortunately doing a little too well. As I said, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day is basically a free for all. While I do still try to implement the basic principles of the Mediterranean Diet (Eat real food, eat slowly, stop when you're full), things do tend to go overboard, but I let it get that way! So needless to say, I've got a little catch up work to do. 

On a slightly different but related note, I've also made a decision. Weight loss is still big on my radar. REAL big. But I've got to make feeling good and healthy my number one priority. I've suffered with fatigue since I was 15 and got mono. The tired feelings just never really left. And after multiple doctors' tests, appointments, and useless conclusions, not to mention gaining about 50 pounds over the years, life doesn't feel so lively for this food blogger, and really hasn't in a very long time. I've got the Mediterranean Diet down in a big way, but I'm still really not in great shape - actually, I'm in ridiculously bad shape, and could always use some nutritional boosting. Along with my usual recipes and tips, I'll be posting regularly about what I'm doing, and will let you know what's working for me. I know for sure I'm not the only one in this boat, and I'd love to hear what you are doing to fight fatigue. 

So step number one: I'm going green. No, not vegetarian, although I did do that for about 4 years, and it just made me more tired even thought I was really careful about meeting nutritional needs. I've been much healthier since putting meet back into my diet, and much less prone to getting sick. I'm testing the waters with the ever popular Green Smoothie. I've been reading a lot about how this is supposed to make you have more energy and keep you strong, not to mention to do all of those good things fruits and veggies do like protect against disease and cancer.

I'm starting with this Dr. Oz Green Juice. Apparently he and Oprah drink it every day, and both swear by it. For some reason, I just really trust the opinion of both of these people... I just do. Anyway, if you want to try this too, whiz up the following in your blender to make 4 servings (I quartered it for 1 serving):

2 cups spinach

2 cups cucumber

1 head of celery

1/2 inch or teaspoon ginger root

1 bunch parsley

2 apples

Juice of 1 lime

Juice of 1/2 lemon 

- So I tried the drink twice now, and I like the taste. It's slightly sweet, and I like the ginger element. My problem so far: I don't think my cheap version of the Magic Bullet is strong enough to process that parsley. It feels like I'm drinking a glass of salsa verde or something... So until I get a better Bullet, I think I'll try to eliminate the parsley and just put more spinach in... I don't think that'll do much harm. I noticed that the second time I tried it (still with parsley), it tasted better.. I was reading something, I don't remember where, that said the more you drink these things, the more alkaloid your body gets... Though I doubt this could happen in a day. 

-I feel kinda good after drinking this. But I'm on vacation and this could just be because I'm better rested. I will report back next Monday to let you all know how this goes. 

Have a great day!